Ask Larry

Is There Any Way For Me To Get Full Retirement Since I Was Forced To File For My Benefits Early?

I was on SSI, at 63 I was notified that since I had retirement I had to take early retirement. Is there anyway I can get full retirement since I had no choice in this per SSA.
Thank you,
Lori

Hi Lori,

No. You could have waited until your full retirement age (FRA) to start drawing unreduced Social Security benefits, but Social Security would then have stopped paying you Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. One of the requirements for receiving SSI is that you must file for any other benefits for which you qualify as soon as you meet the requirements for eligibility for those benefits. That's true even if it results in you receiving a reduced benefit rate. And, if you start drawing Social Security retirement benefits prior to full retirement age (FRA), the reduction for age applied to your benefit rate is permanent.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Nov 5 2020 - 9:28am
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